Welcome to the News Section of Harrogate in Bloom
Here is the latest news from our beautiful, floral town.
Harrogate in Bloom is run by a small team of volunteers and we try to keep this page updated as often as possible.
UK Britain in Bloom Finals GOLD AWARD winners
31 October
2025
Harrogate in Bloom achieved a Gold award at this year's Britain in Bloom finals. Chris Beard, founder member of Harrogate in Bloom, and Angela Dicken received the award from Arit Anderson at the ceremony in Brighton. Many thanks to everyone who supported our entry this year and CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved with Harrogate in Bloom.
Celebrating our 2025 Award winners
8 October
2025
The Cedar Court Hotel was the venue for our 2025 Awards evening with almost 100 people coming together to celebrate the floral achievements of our schools, businesses and community groups.
The event was organised in collaboration with Harrogate BID; Nick Smith was once again our compere for the evening and Phil Airey from Horticap awarded the trophies.
The Mayor's Trophy was awarded to our President, Pam Grant, for her sterling work and dedication to Harrogate in Bloom since its inception in 1989.
Full results can be seen on our Competitions page.
Congratulations to Harrogate's Yorkshire in Bloom Award winners
25 Sept
2025
Harrogate BID, Horticap, Rudding Park Hotel and Oatlands Junior School all achieved Gold Awards in their categories at the Yorkshire in Bloom Awards Ceremony at The Riley Smith Hall in Tadcaster. The Valley Gardens achieved a Platinum Award in the Park and Gardens category and Hookstone and Stonefall Action Group once again achieved Outstanding in the "It's Your Neighbourhood" competition.
Congratulations and very well done to everyone involved.
Britain in Bloom judges visit Harrogate
11 August
2025
Lovely weather accompanied the Britain in Bloom judges, Bendan Mowforth and Andrew Jackson, on their visit to Harrogate. Our town looked absolutely fabulous and had a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.
The judges visited Horticap, Harlow Hill Allotments, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett Local Nature Reserve, the Town Centre and the Valley Gardens, finishing with lunch at the West Park Heritage Centre. Everyone worked hard to demonstrate our community spirit and our endeavours to make our town look blooming marvellous! Well done everyone!
Harrogate's own "hanami"
April/May
2025
Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers. Harrogate’s cherry blossom provides our town with our own opportunity to enjoy the fleeting beauty of these beautiful blooms.
The arrival of the cherry blossom has been enjoyed ever since 100 double-flowering cherry trees were planted along two avenues across the Stray to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
Hundreds of visitors of many nationalities come to Harrogate each year to enjoy a stroll beneath the cherry trees, to take photographs and appreciate their beauty. Harrogate is now considered to be one of the UK’s cherry blossom hotspots.
The blossoms last for just a short time, but their impact is long-lasting.
Will Harrogate prove Champion again?
24 January
2025
In 2025 Harrogate will once again be representing Yorkshire in Bloom in the RHS Britain in Bloom Competition in the UK Finals in the Small City & City category to be judged between 28 July - 15 August 2025.
Our beautiful town has an illustrious history of winning gold medals in both Yorkshire and Britain in Bloom and is a double winner of Europe in Bloom.